Ohio State strong in second half for 49-21 victory over Indiana

The Ohio State Buckeyes are looking for another college footbal l playoffs appearance because the core of its roster remains in tact.

Rutgers averaged 5.0 per attempt last season, and that placed it 128th in top-rung college football, out of 128.

One thing hasn't changed after Tom Allen took over the program, IN still loves to throw the ball.

"We'll take 1-0 on the road and a Big Ten victory", Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. "We'll find out then". The next year, OSU did not play its first game until November 11.

The Buckeyes, playing their first game under new offensive coordinator and former IU coach Kevin Wilson, appeared as talented as advertised.

And yet, what the Hoosiers really want is a chance to prove this doesn't have to be a one-off deal. One of the best things that the Hoosiers are expecting for is the maturity of quarterback Richard Lagow who is returning. "You've just got to focus on all your mental tasks all day and then, when you get to the stadium, you can start to get ready".

The Buckeyes (1-0, 1-0 Big Ten) recorded 269 of their 596 total yards during the third quarter, scoring 29 unanswered points beginning with a 74-yard crossing route from Parris Campbell with 4:38 left in the period.

"As you go back and look at how they performed past year, they hung 62 on Maryland and beat Nebraska by 60-something", said Allen, who was close as the Buckeyes beat Nebraska 62-3. He's a proven leader who put the team in position to win the 2014 national title.

So Meyer will rely on the Buckeyes' experience to deliver another marquee performance.

"Last year was very alarming because our whole team was new", Meyer said. This year is a little more comfortable because guys have been in the environment before. "So this game right here is the biggest game of the season for us".

"The bottom line is that for 2 1/2 quarters, we went toe-to-toe with them", Allen said.

True freshman J.K. Dobbins, who got the starting place for the injured Mike Webber, who sat out the game with a hamstring problem, rushed for a game-high 181 yards on 29 carries.

IN led 21-20 with 4:56 to play in the third quarter, and then the bottom dropped out.

But this year, there's no clear-cut starter and Allen plans to use a handful of backs. Devonte Williams has been as quick and explosive as he's always been and Cole Gest, getting him back was good. "That's not normal. They are pretty elite up front for sure". Either way, they'll have to adjust on the fly. "They made plays when we didn't". "I'll just throw the ball down second-and-one, third-and-six, on objective". Plus, by the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Barrett was throwing darts in garbage time against defenders that looked like they'd run out of gas.